Touch-sensitive elevator operation device for direction of travel calls

Abstract

An elevator system in which an elevator car can be moved between floors in a manner controlled by an elevator controller is described. A car call device is communicatively connected to the elevator controller for inputting a destination floor is arranged in the elevator car. Elevator operation devices are communicatively connected to the elevator controller are arranged on the floors for the input of calls. An elevator operation device has a touch-sensitive screen system equipped with a substantially smooth touch surface and which responds with haptically perceptible feedback to a touch of the touch surface by a passenger.

1 . An elevator system, comprising:
 an elevator controller;   an elevator car which can be moved, in a manner controlled by the elevator controller, between floors, wherein a car call device which is communicatively connected to the elevator controller and is intended for inputting a destination floor is arranged in the elevator car;   elevator operation devices which are communicatively connected to the elevator controller and are arranged on the floors for the input of an elevator call, wherein an elevator operation device comprises a touch-sensitive screen system which includes a substantially smooth touch surface and is configured to respond with haptically perceptible feedback to a touch of the touch surface by a passenger,   wherein the elevator controller is configured to actuate an elevator operation device in a normal operation mode of the elevator system by means of a first control signal such that the screen system displays at least one call symbol on a user interface, and   wherein the elevator controller is configured to actuate an elevator operation device in an emergency operation mode of the elevator system by means of a second control signal such that the screen system displays an emergency operation message on the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The elevator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the screen system is also configured to respond with the haptically perceptible feedback when the passenger touches the at least one call symbol and to identify input of an elevator call when the touch reaches a specified pressure force. 
     
     
         3 . The elevator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive screen system comprises an actuator which, when actuated by a control voltage, causes a surface of the screen system to vibrate, the vibration comprising the haptically perceptible feedback, and wherein the touch-sensitive screen system comprises a force measuring device and a control device, the force measuring device being configured to measure a pressure force with which the passenger presses on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive screen system, and the control device being configured to register the measured force as a triggering force only when the measured pressure force reaches a specified threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The elevator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elevator operation device comprises a communication device for communication with the elevator controller, and a central control and processing device which communicates with the communication device, and is communicatively connected to the screen system, the central control and processing device being configured to:
 in a normal operation mode, when actuated by the elevator controller by a first control signal, actuate the screen system such that the user interface displays the at least one call symbol, and   in the emergency operation mode, when actuated by the elevator controller by a second control signal, actuate the screen system such that the screen system displays the emergency operation message on the user interface.   
     
     
         5 . The elevator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elevator operation device comprises an audio device for a voice message, the elevator operation device being configured to generate the voice message in connection with the haptically perceptible feedback. 
     
     
         6 . The elevator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elevator controller is configured to actuate an elevator operation device in the normal operation mode such that the screen system displays at least one information field in addition to the at least one call symbol, the screen system being configured to respond with the haptically perceptible feedback when a passenger touches the at least one information field. 
     
     
         7 . The elevator system according to  claim 6 , wherein an information field displays information regarding a specified floor, an elevator operation device being configured, when the passenger touches the information field, to generate the haptically perceptible feedback and a voice message assigned to the information field and, if the pressure force is equal to a specified threshold value, to register a request to travel in the direction of the specified floor. 
     
     
         8 . The elevator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elevator operation device comprises a reader, communicatively connected to the elevator controller, for credentials of the passenger, the elevator operation device being configured to authorize the input of an elevator call when the credentials are valid. 
     
     
         9 . The elevator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one call symbol is a direction of travel symbol. 
     
     
         10 . An elevator operation device for inputting an elevator call in an elevator system, comprising:
 a communication device which is configured to communicate with an elevator controller of the elevator system;   a central control and processing device which is communicatively connected to the communication device;   a touch-sensitive screen system which is equipped with a substantially smooth touch surface and is communicatively connected to the communication device,
 wherein the screen system is configured to respond with haptically perceptible feedback to a touch of the touch surface by a passenger, 
 wherein the central control and processing device is configured, when actuated by the elevator controller in a normal operation mode of the elevator system, to actuate the screen system such that the screen system displays at least one call symbol on a user interface, and 
   wherein the central control and processing device is configured, when actuated by the elevator controller in an emergency operation mode of the elevator system, to actuate the screen system such that the screen system displays an emergency operation message on the user interface.   
     
     
         11 . The elevator operation device according to  claim 10 , wherein the central control and processing device is also configured to respond with the haptically perceptible feedback when the passenger touches the at least one call symbol and to identify input of an elevator call when the touch reaches a specified pressure force. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating an elevator system comprising an elevator car, an elevator controller and elevator operation devices which are communicatively connected to the elevator controller and are arranged on floors for the input of an elevator call, wherein an elevator operation device has a touch-sensitive screen system which is equipped with a substantially smooth touch surface and is configured to respond with haptically perceptible feedback to a touch of the touch surface by passenger, wherein the method comprises:
 actuating an elevator operation device by means of a first control signal generated by the elevator controller in a normal operation mode of the elevator system, whereupon a central control and processing device of the elevator operation device causes at least one call symbol to be displayed on a user interface of the screen system; and   actuating an elevator operation device by means of a second control signal generated by the elevator controller in an emergency operation mode of the elevator system, whereupon the central control and processing device of the elevator operation device causes an emergency operation message to be displayed on the user interface of the screen system.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising generating the haptically perceptible feedback when the passenger touches the at least one call symbol and identifying input of an elevator call when the touch reaches a specified pressure force. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the haptically perceptible feedback is generated by an actuator of the touch-sensitive screen system which, when actuated by a control voltage, causes the touch surface to vibrate, and wherein the specified pressure force is determined by a force measuring device of the screen system, wherein the force measuring device is configured to measure a pressure force with which the passenger presses on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive screen system, and wherein a control device of the screen system is configured to register the measured force as a triggering force only when the measured pressure force reaches a specified threshold value. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising generating a voice message by an audio device of the elevator operation device, wherein the voice message is generated in connection with the haptically perceptible feedback.